Five persons and two institutions have been selected for the `Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation` for their outstanding contributions for conservation of nature and wildlife in the country.

The decision was taken at the 37th meeting of the Wildlife Advisory Board at Bangladesh Secretariat here today with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury in the chair.

The meeting was held to finalise the nominations for the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2023 and 2024.

For Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2023, Md Abu Saeed of Dhaka and Md Zahir Raihan of Jhenaidah were jointly selected in the category of wildlife conservation officers, renowned researchers, scientists, wildlife conservationists and media personalities, while Md Abdul Aziz, Professor of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University, in wildlife education and research category and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in the category of organisation.

Akash Koli Das of Pabna was selected in the wildlife conservation officer, eminent researcher, scientist, wildlife conservationist and media personality category for Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2024, while Md Kamrul Hasan, Professor of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University, in the category of wildlife education and research and Naogaon`s Joboibil Biodiversity Conservation and Social Welfare Organization in the category of organisation dedicated to wildlife conservation.

Speaking at the meeting, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the initiatives will be taken to utilise the experience of those who will get the award.
He said the guidelines issued in 2012 for giving the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation will be updated, urging all to come forward to conserve wildlife.

Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the environment ministry Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE) Dr Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury were, among others, present at the meeting.

The individuals and organisations selected for Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation will be awarded each with cash equivalent to market value of two Vori (23.32 grams) of gold and an account payable cheque of Taka 50,000. BSS